The Los Angeles Dodgers needed just five games to knock off the New York Yankees in the 2024 MLB World Series.
The Dodgers spent over $1 billion in the offseason, and it paid off. After all, most of the teams that made it the furthest in the MLB Playoffs this season were teams that spent the most money on their players.
The Dodgers were stacked across the board to begin the season. However, Los Angeles had many injuries, especially in its starting rotation. The Dodgers were so thin at the starter position that they had bullpen games throughout the postseason.
While it’s a little early to look at the 2025 World Series odds, let’s still discuss whether any team in the MLB could prevent the Los Angeles Dodgers from repeating as 2025 World Series champions.
Join us as we take a look at the current 2025 World Series odds and MLB Futures bets from the industry’s top sportsbooks below, as well as some history and betting advice.
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The Dodgers Are Still Favorites
A lot can change from now until next year’s spring training. Don’t be surprised if the Dodgers are still looking to add talent despite their success in 2024.
Two of the three postseason starters for the Dodgers, Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler, are free agents. Meanwhile, Teoscar Hernandez, who hit in the middle of the lineup, is also a free agent. The Dodgers also have Enrique Hernandez, who will be a free agent, and many bullpen arms that could be gone, too. Of course, the Dodgers could resign some of these players. But for now, they’re free agents.
That said, the Dodgers will have their core of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Will Smith. Tommy Edman, Gavin Lux and Andy Pages are still in control. Don’t be surprised if the Dodgers splurge on a center fielder. James Outman was supposed to be that guy, but he hasn’t worked out.
Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani is expected to pitch in the 2025 season. Ohtani will be in a rotation with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. You can also expect Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonesolin, and Dustin May to be healthy by 2025. Those three were all injured and unavailable in the postseason this year. That’s why the World Series win was so admirable. The team played without so many arms in the postseason.
Again, the Dodgers could add more pieces. At +350, the Dodgers are still a valuable option.
New York Yankees (+700)
The New York Yankees made it into the World Series in a predictably weak American League.
Aaron Judge was terrible in the playoffs, and Juan Soto will likely leave the Yankees for whoever gives him the most money. There won’t be any loyalty toward the Yankees, which probably hurts New York’s chances of keeping him.
Soto, Gleybar Torres, and Alex Verdugo will all be free agents. The Yankees only made one move so far: exercising the club option for new closer Luke Weaver. No matter if the Yankees can keep Soto, they’ll spend for a player or two. They’ll still be a powerhouse in the American League. After all, Jazz Chisholm is still under contract. Jasson Dominguez could earn a full-time role in the outfield, too.
Finally, the starting rotation won’t change. That at least counts for something. However, I still don’t think the Yankees can beat the Dodgers if they were in the World Series matchup in 2025.
New York Yankees (+700)
The Atlanta Braves really struggled down the stretch without Ronald Acuña Jr. However, the former NL MVP will be back in action in 2025. He’ll lead off the Braves lineup that will still have a healthy Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Matt Olson and Michael Harris II. The Braves probably need more depth at the bottom of the lineup. That’s something they’ll look into during free agency.
Additionally, the Braves could lose out on Max Fried. Fried is a free agent and one of the game’s most highly touted lefties. Someone will pay him if it’s not the Braves.
Atlanta will eventually get Spencer Strider back in the rotation and should be traded by the Angels for Griffin Canning. Therefore, Fried could be out of the picture in Atlanta. Still, the rotation will have Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Schwellenbach, Canning, and Ian Anderson. Anderson would lose out once Strider returns from elbow surgery. I’d also expect the Braves to use a club option on Marcell Ozuna and keep him around.
Atlanta is typically crafty and makes moves to better their team. We’ll see what they’ve got up their sleeve. For now, the Braves aren’t good enough to beat the Dodgers.
New York Mets / Philadelphia Phillies / San Diego Padres
No American League team will be enough if the Yankees aren’t good enough to beat the Dodgers. However, the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres are three teams that will spend to defeat the Dodgers.
The Mets will need to consider bringing back Pete Alonso and Luis Severino. They’ll also surely be in on Juan Soto for the right-field outfield spot. In addition, Sean Manaea has a $13.5 million player option that he won’t take. He’s worth more than that but is hopeful the Mets can agree on an extension.
Without Manaea and Severino, the Mets would be left with Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Paul Blackburn, Tylor Megill and Joey Lucchesi. That won’t cut it. Obviously, the Mets know that, too. They’ll spend. But if Juan Soto comes to New York, that’ll make adding pitching depth a little harder.
Meanwhile, the Phillies aren’t losing many players to free agency. They’ll only get better in 2025 but will need to be more consistent. The second half wasn’t good for the Phillies.
Finally, the Padres could lose Jurickson Profar in free agency. Kyle Higashioka is also a free agent entering the 2025 season. These two were unsung heroes throughout the season for the Padres but might not be there on opening day. Still, San Diego will make many additions to the squad. They’re not good enough yet, but could get there.
Where To Watch the 2025 World Series
You can watch the MLB playoffs on FOX, FSI, ESPN, ESPN 2, and TBS.
Playoff games can also be streamed via YouTube TV, fuboTV, Sling TV, and Huli.
How To Sign up at an Online Sportsbook
- Pick a Site: Bet365 Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook , and BetWay Sportsbook are some examples of top-rated online sportsbooks.
- Sign Up: Register your account. You’ll need to provide some basic information about yourself.
- Make a Deposit: Deposit funds into your account with your preferred payment method. Many online sportsbooks accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), debit cards, bank wire transfers, e-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller) and even crypto payment options (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum).
- Place Your Wagers: Know what sports betting operators are offering. Once you have selected your desired Major League Baseball market, you can bet on all of your favorite teams and players, including who will be named the pennant winner or who will win the World Series.
Quick Facts for the Last 5 World Series Champions
- 2023: The Texas Rangers were listed at -165 to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks. In Game 5, which won them the series, they had to overcome a no-hit bid from Arizona’s starter. They were evidently a resilient team.
- 2022: The Houston Astros were listed at -200 to win their series versus the Philadelphia Phillies. This win is memorable because of the dominance of its pitching. Houston won Game 4, for example, with a combined no-hitter, which is an extremely rare feat in Major League history.
- 2021: The Houston Astros were listed at -140 to win its series against the Atlanta Braves, which was listed at +120. The Braves won the series in six games. Atlanta is a great example of a team getting hot at the right time. The Braves were the only postseason team that hadn’t won 90 regular season games.
- 2020: The Los Angeles Dodgers were listed at -210 to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays. This will always be known in Major League history as the COVID-era title, due to taking place during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Teams had to endure ridiculous obstacles, such as extended player absences, as a result of dealing with the virus. L.A. won its first title since 1988.
- 2019: The Houston Astros were listed at -235 to win its series against the Washington Nationals, which was listed at +195. The Nationals won the series in seven games. This win was memorable for them because, 50 games into the season, they were twelve games below .500. They also proved to be a clutch team, as part of their overcoming a 3-2 series deficit.
How To Bet on the 2024 World Series
First, you should know what the best sportsbooks are. You can do this by checking out our comprehensive reviews of all the top online sports betting sites in the United States.
2024 World Series Betting Strategy
When betting on the World Series, you’ll want to think about what goes into the stats that you look at when deciding what to bet.
The main point here is that the stats that we look at are not as useful as they first seem. In fact, they are often misleading.
This is so in two respects. One, the stats that we most easily encounter are season-long stats. This is a problem because the season in baseball is very long. Teams start playing at the end of March and yet the World Series takes place in October.
Teams — as well as the players that make up those teams — will change in several respects. They will improve or get worse. They will get worse or improve in different ways that will become relevant to know in a given game. For example, they might become worse against left-handed pitching. They might become better in general.
As such, statistics that were shaped by games taking place so long ago in March or April certainly lose their relevance. That’s why, to make my point clear, nobody considers stats from previous seasons when considering what bets to place in a game this season.
Consider Every Factor
My best piece of advice for bettors is to progress past thinking about who will win. This is what novices do because they are not familiar with the concept of betting value. Those who bet longer recognize that prices are crucial to sports betting in general. This is because we are playing with a bankroll and we are trying to win money — “bankroll” and “money” are of course quantifiable terms, so we have to think in terms of quantities.
If we focus on being open-minded about investing in underdog teams and long shots, then we can achieve larger payouts and create a larger margin of error for ourselves. If we get too comfortable with betting on favorites, then we have fewer games to lose until we reach a certain deficit. Of course, some favorites are worth investing in.
My point here is to focus on getting good prices. If a team is, in your mind, not favored strongly enough, then you should consider betting on it even if it is priced highly. That being said, for individual games, I can’t stomach the thought of investing in a moneyline at -150 or greater. If you are so confident in a team that you want to invest in it at such a price, then you must be confident that it will win by multiple runs. Therefore, you should play that team on the run-line.
Focus on Recent Regular Season or Postseason Stats
So, you’ll want to look at more recent stats, restricting their calculations to more recent months.
Teams also might get hot in the postseason, which should lead you to consider restricting yourself to focusing on even more recent periods.
Dig into Performance Metrics
The stats we normally encounter are also deceptive because they conceal a lot of what is going on. For example, an “out” leads to a batter being 0-for-1. But “0-for-1” does not account for how that batter failed to hit.
There is a big difference between a hitter who softly grounds out and a hitter who rockets a ball that happens to find the glove of an opposing fielder.
When considering what bets to place, you’ll want to look beneath the surface, at metrics like xSLG (expected slugging rate) to see how hitters and lineups are truly performing. For pitchers, my favorite metric is FIP, which is like ERA but factors out fielding.
Moreover, you’ll want to look at specific matchups. For example, it might be tempting to bet on a team with a great lineup, but even the best lineups have weaknesses. For example, you should look at whether they perform well against left-handed pitchers when they are facing a left-handed starter.
Monitor Line Movements
My final piece of advice is to monitor games you’re interested in for any changes that take place. If you suddenly see a significant line movement, then this likely means that something occurred that could alter your betting decision. A team might, for example, switch starting pitchers at the last minute.
Think About Your Bankroll
My next piece of advice is to think about bankroll. It is fun to think about games because games are fun and entertaining, but we have to do the “grind work” of thinking about finances, too, because finances are what allow us to have fun betting on games in the first place.
My recommendation here is to be what is called a flat bettor. You should wager the same amount in order to avoid taking too great a loss in a given game.
While losing is hard, you can’t be afraid to lose. Scared money does not make money. You have to bet within your limits so that you can be sure to have fun and just relish your freedom after you’ve done the hard work of handicapping.
Understanding Postseason Strategy
Postseason baseball is different from the regular season.
Teams might rely on starters to come out of the bullpen. They might lean on just a couple of relievers. If the latter is the case, then you’ll want to consider whether those relievers are fresh or not.
Remember the basic betting fundamentals of setting a budget. Be sure to monitor things like player injuries and weather and bet with your head, not your heart. Finally, have fun while you’re wagering.
2024 World Series Betting Strategy
When betting on the World Series, you’ll want to think about what goes into the stats that you look at when deciding what to bet.
The main point here is that the stats that we look at are not so useful as they seem at first. In fact, they are often misleading.
This is so in two respects. One, the stats that we most easily encounter are season-long stats. This is a problem because the season in baseball is very long. Teams start playing at the end of March, and yet the World Series takes place in October.
Teams – as well as the players that make up those teams – will change in several respects. They will improve or get worse. They will get worse or improve in different ways that will become relevant to know in a given game. For example, they might become worse against left-handed pitching. They might become better in general.
As such, statistics that were shaped by games taking place so long ago in March or April certainly lose their relevance. That’s why, to make my point clear, nobody considers stats from previous seasons when considering what bets to place in a game this season.
Focus on Recent Stats
So, you’ll want to look at more recent stats, restricting their calculations to more recent months.
Teams also might get hot in the postseason, which should lead you to consider restricting yourself to focusing on even more recent periods.
Dig into Performance Metrics
The stats that we normally encounter are also deceptive because they conceal a lot of what is really going on. For example, an “out” leads to a batter being 0-for-1. But “0-for-1” does not account for how that batter failed to hit.
There is a big difference between a hitter who softly grounds out and a hitter who rockets a ball that happens to find the glove of an opposing fielder.
When considering what bets to place, you’ll want to look beneath the surface, at metrics like xSLG (expected slugging rate) to see how hitters and lineups are truly performing. For pitchers, my favorite metric is FIP, which is like ERA but factors out fielding.
Moreover, you’ll want to look at specific matchups. For example, it might be tempting to bet on a team with a great lineup, but even the best lineups have weaknesses. For example, you should look at whether they perform well against left-handed pitchers when they are facing a left-handed starter.
Monitor Line Movements
My final piece of advice is to monitor games you’re interested in for any changes that take place. If you suddenly see a significant line movement, then this likely means that something occurred that could alter your betting decision. A team might, for example, switch starting pitchers in the last minute.
What is the World Series?
Every baseball postseason culminates with the World Series. It is equivalent, in its importance, to the NFL’s Super Bowl in the sense that the winning team will be crowned champion of that season.
The significance of the World Series is palpable while it’s being played. As a spectator, one feels a certain intensity and gravity that do not exist at least to the same extent during regular season games. In the World Series, everything is on the line, so players give their very best and the fans are moved by higher levels of nervousness and anticipation.
Because of the World Series’ significance, it is more likely to be memorable. The amazing plays — dives, leaps, etc. — that take place throughout the entire baseball season adopt greater significance in the World Series because of their consequences. Many of baseball’s greatest moments, therefore, are considered to have taken place in the World Series.
One example of such a moment is Jim Leyritz’s home run in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, which helped shift the momentum of that series to his team’s side. His Yankees would go on to win the series. If he had hit that home run in the regular season against the same team, then it would not be remembered today. But he’s now considered a legend because he hit it during the World Series.
Jim Leyritz was a New York Yankee. His ability to help his team win the 1996 World Series is just one moment in the franchise’s long stretch of success. The Yankees, in total, have captured 27 World Series titles, 16 more than the Cardinals in second place.
The Yankees’ first World Series title came in 1923. As historically extensive as the Yankees’ World Series success has been, the history of the World Series goes much further back. The year of the first World Series is 1903. The Boston Americans defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in what was back then a best-of-nine series.
The Road to the World Series
Getting to the World Series requires teams to make the playoffs in the first place. The MLB playoffs have recently undergone an expansion, making playoff qualification a real possibility for more teams at later points in the baseball season.
There are twelve teams in total that make the playoffs. There are six teams from the American League (AL) and six from the National League (NL).
One way in which a team makes the playoffs is by being a division winner. There are three divisions in each league, so there will be three division winners per league.
Wild Card Teams
There will also be three Wild Card teams in each league. To earn a Wild Card berth, a team must have one of the three best regular season records in its respective league, excluding the division winners. There are a total of six Wild Card teams in the MLB postseason.
Seeding
After making the playoffs, the next step on the path to the World Series is to win every round up until the World Series itself. The top two seeds in each league will have one less round to win because they get a first-round bye.
The other teams will play as follows: the third seed against the sixth seed and the fourth seed against the fifth seed. The number one seed will face the winner of the latter series and the second seed will be the winner of the former series.
The World Series is won by the team that wins four games against its World Series opponent. The league champion team with the best record will get home-field advantage. If both teams have the same league record, then a sequence of tiebreakers is available to determine who will get it. The first tiebreaker is which team has won more games against the other.
How To Read MLB Betting Lines & Odds
Moneylines
You are betting on the outright winner. This can be the winner of an individual game or series.
For example, the Boston Red Sox ML might be -300 in a given regular season game against the San Francisco Giants. A $100 bet on Boston to beat San Francisco would net you $133.33 in total winnings — including your original stake — if Boston wins.
Run Lines
With this bet type, you are betting on a team to cover the spread.
For example, if the Yankees’ run line is +1.5 in a given game, then those who play this will win if the Yankees win or if they lose by only one run. If you bet on the Phillies’ run line at -1.5, then you’ll need the Phillies to win by at least two runs.
Totals Bets
You are betting on the number of runs that both teams combine for.
For example, let’s say that the over/under for a given game is seven runs. By betting on the “under,” you are wagering that both teams will combine for fewer than seven runs. An “over” bet amounts to saying that both teams will score a combined total of more than seven runs.
A “push” happens when the final score of a game equals the over/under. If this game ends with seven runs exactly, then you’ll just get your money back.
Prop Bets
There are a variety of different bets, such as the number of strikeouts, how long a pitcher will last and so on. There are game prop bets, team prop bets and individual player prop bets available at most major online sports betting sites.
For example, you might want to wager that Bryce Harper will have multiple hits in a given game.
First Five Innings Bets
You are betting on the outcome of the first five innings. This will be an appropriate bet if you like the starting pitcher matchups but not the team’s respective bullpen.
For example, if the Dodgers are playing the Yankees and you think that James Paxton will outperform Carlos Rodon, then you might play the Dodgers but stick to a first five bet.
Live Betting Markets
A game’s odds will shift throughout its duration, such that the odds no longer match the pre-game odds.
For example, let’s say that the Yankees betting line is +250 before the game. In the first inning, they might race out to a 2-0 lead. The live Yankees ML might become +150.
But their opponent’s in-game betting odds would become more attractive, so you might consider wagering on their opponent because teams that race out to early leads often still lose the game. There’s a lot that can happen leading up to the ninth inning.
You should engage in live betting because many opportunities become available that were not available before a given game. There are circumstances to consider here that can take place in a baseball game. For example, if you really like a team’s starting pitcher and you see that that pitcher is racing through innings with a low pitch count, then you might want to invest in that team for the full game.
2023 World Series Recap
Last year, the World Series teams were the Texas Rangers (-165) and Arizona Diamondbacks (+145). We will explore the outcome of this championship game in greater detail in the sections below:
Unexpected Contenders
Texas was not expected to reach the World Series. In fact, the Rangers were not expected to advance past the Wild Card round. But they were the Wild Card winner, despite being strong underdogs in each game, against Tampa Bay. They then beat the 101-win Orioles before advancing past the rival, playoff-experienced Astros.
Arizona was also a surprise World Series participant, reminding us of the value that we should find in less favored teams. The Diamondbacks had to win both road games to advance past their first round. They then had to upset the renowned Dodgers before surprising the experienced Phillies.
And the Winner Is…
In the World Series, Texas won the series in five games. Guys like Marcus Semien improved. Corey Seager was the MVP mostly because of his clutch hitting in Games 1 and 3. In Game 5, Nathan Eovaldi pitched six shutout innings, keeping his team competitive while Arizona’s starter was dealing a no-hitter.
The Dodgers were a significant disappointment given their big names. Clearly, we can’t just bet on teams laden with big names because their degree of reliability is skewed by the praise lavished upon them by sports media. Sports media is a dangerous thing because it values big names and easily induces bettors to fall in love with them. We have to look at the less-appreciated players and baseball teams. This is where we’ll find attractive prices and land great payouts.
The Yankees did not make the playoffs. This was a disappointing result for a franchise that is more associated with World Series greatness than any other franchise.
Conclusion
By staying informed about team performances, player conditions and the current betting odds, you can make more well-informed betting decisions that enhance your chances of winning.
Whether you favor the heavily backed Dodgers or you see value in underdog teams like the Padres, the insights provided in this World Series betting guide aim to equip you with the knowledge needed to navigate the betting landscape effectively.
MLB World Series Odds FAQs
Can I attend a World Series game?
You can attend the World Series, but it is hard to do. You won’t know where the World Series will be located until the respective AL and NL winners are determined. You’ll have to be able to make last-minute plans. You’ll have an advantage if your schedule is flexible.
When will I know which teams are playing in the World Series?
You’ll know when the winner of the AL and the winner of the NL are determined. These are the two Major League Baseball teams that will compete in the World Series.
How many games are in the World Series?
Major League Baseball’s World Series is a best-of-seven playoff, consisting of up to seven games. The team that wins four games first is declared the champion. This format has been in place since 1905, with the exception of 1919, 1920 and 1921, when it was a best-of-nine series.
Are World Series games still nine innings?
Yes, the rules for baseball remain mostly in place. One change is that the extra-runner rule for extra innings will no longer apply.
Can I bet on the World Series now?
You can bet on the MLB World Series throughout the season, including during the offseason, regular season and postseason. The World Series odds are typically available quickly after the conclusion of the previous season and these odds are updated regularly by top betting sites like Caesars, Bet365 and BetWay Sportsbook.
